The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental should keep watch.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Four provinces in Mindanao are put under Tsunami Alert Level 1 following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake near the Santa Cruz Island in the South Pacific at 9:12 AM, February 6.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental should keep watch.
The warning was also issued for the coastal areas in the Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte.
In its bulletin issued at 9:45 AM today, Phivolcs noted the earthquake’s location at 10.9ºSouth/165.1ºEast with depth of 33 km.
“An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours,” Phivolcs said.
It added that the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed.
According to Phivolcs, no evacuation order is in effect. “But communities along the east coast of the country (listed above) are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation.”
The agency said they are monitoring sea level changes in the epicentral area and will relay significant observations to concerned authorities. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)
